Newt Gingrich was the big winner in the Republican Party presidential primary in South Carolina on Saturday – but that wasn’t his only victory that day. The former U.S. Speaker of the House also won a straw poll conducted Saturday morning by members of the Baldwin County GOP.

Gingrich captured 48 percent of the straw poll vote against 29 percent for Mitt Romney, 17 percent for Rick Santorum and 6 percent for Ron Paul. That was based on a total of 25 votes for Gingrich, 15 for Romney, 9 for Santorum and 3 for Paul.

Hours later, Republican voters in South Carolina delivered similar results. Gingrich got 41 percent of the vote in the Palmetto State, compared to 27 percent for Romney, 17 percent for Santorum and 13 percent for Paul.

Mabry, speaking to teachers at Mobile’s Davidson High School, urged AEA members to rally against proposals from Republican lawmakers that would establish charter schools, combine the education and general fund budgets and cut teacher retirement benefits.

"Governor Bentley and the Republican legislative leadership are proposing desperately needed, bold and innovative reforms in their education agenda, providing parents more options for their children and liberating teachers from over-regulation and bureaucrats that distract teachers from teaching our kids,” Armistead said in a news release. “Mabry and the AEA want to protect the status quo."

Armistead also jabbed Mabry over a December report that revealed he sends his children to a private school in Montgomery.

“Our Republican leaders are pushing to make sure that every child in Alabama has access to top-notch education, not just those whose parents are rich enough to send their kids to private school," Armistead said.

Tweets of the week

Top tweets from Alabama politicos on Twitter:

@GovernorBentley: 2011 turned out to be a pretty good year, in terms of reducing unemployment, but we still have work to do.

@BachusAL06 Government should not censor Internet - I oppose SOPA and PIPA

@ZacMcCrary Reminded yet again of Civil War era quote "South Carolina: too small for a republic, too large for an asylum"

Bracy, Fincher recognized as "Forty under 40"

A pair of Mobile-area lawmakers were included by Mobile Bay Monthly magazine in its annual "Forty under 40" list of local movers and shakers.

State Reps. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, and Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, were recognized for making the Mobile Bay area a stronger, better community.

Bracy, 34, listed Facebook and shooting pool as his guilty pleasures, and said his goal was creating high-wage jobs for the region. Bracy asked to name the person from Mobile history he’d most like to have dinner with, named the late state Sen. Michael Figures.

Fincher, 37, listed hobbies including Auburn football and snow skiing. Asked for his vision of Mobile in 20 years, he answered: "We will have a beautiful I-10 bridge that will highlight the Mobile skyline. We will have a thriving cruise industry that will take passengers to Mexico, the Caribbean and Cuba. Mobile will have a vibrant trade relation with Cuba after the embargo is lifted."

Artur Davis returns to Harvard

Former U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, has a new gig as a resident fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics.

Davis, 44, said he was leaving his job as a partner at SNR Denton law firm in Washington, D.C., to return to Harvard, where he graduate magna cum laude in 1990. Davis is also a graduate of Harvard Law School.

Harvard last week named Davis one of seven resident fellows for the spring semester. Davis left Alabama in 2010 following his unsuccessful bid for governor.

Announcements

The Common Sense Campaign will hold candidate forum from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at Homestead Village in Fairhope. A second forum featuring Mike Powers, who will speak about the Alabama health care compact, is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 2 at Homestead Village in Fairhope. For more information, contact the campaign at 251-626-7808.

The Baldwin County Young Republicans will meet at 6 p.m. today at Wintzell’s Oyster House in the Eastern Shore Center. The featured speaker will be Tim Russell, candidate for Baldwin County Probate Judge. The meeting is open to the public.

Sen. Richard Shelby will speak at the Mobile Area Chamber’s first Forum Alabama of 2012 at 7:30 a.m. Jan 30 at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. The breakfast is $25 for members and $35 for prospective members. RSVP to Carolyn Hunt at 251-431-8621 or chunt@mobilechamber.com

The Pete Riehm For Congress Campaign is hosting a Meet & Greet with Pete Riehm 2:30-4:30pm Sunday in Spanish Fort. The event is open to the public and will be held at Wilson’s Service Center, 6435 Spanish Fort Blvd. in Spanish Fort

Supporters of President Barack Obama have organized State of the Union watch parties for Mobile and Baldwin counties on Tuesday. The Mobile party will be held at 7 p.m. at the Mobile Democratic Headquarters, 918 Government, next to the Compass Bank. Watch parties are also scheduled in Fairhope, Foley, Lillian and Gulf Shores. For more information, contact OFA South Alabama volunteer community organizer Pat Siano at 251-979-8583

Best-selling author Andy Andrews of Orange Beach will sign copies of his new book, “How Do You Kill 11 Million People?” at 6 p.m. tonight at First Baptist Church in Fairhope. For more information, contact Page & Palette book store at 251-928-5295.